Ladder hoist



Jan. 22, 1963 I w. BOOK 3,074,508

LADDER HOIST Filed Oct. 28, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

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3,074,508 LADDER HOIST William F. Book, 936 SW. 49th St, Oklahoma City,{)lria. Filed Oct. 28, 196i Ser. No. 65,859 (lit-rims. (Cl. 182-129)This invention relates to a novel ladder hoist.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a moreefiicient, safer, and versatile ladder hoist which can be adjusted toposition its sheave close to or spaced away from a ladder upon which thehoist is mounted.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a hoist of thecharacter indicated above whose mounting means extends away from theladder at an outward and upward angle, so that the foot of the ladder isforced against the ground and the head of the ladder is forced against aroof eave or the like, in a manner to resist slipping and tipping of theladder during use of the hoist.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a hoist of thecharacter indicated above which is adapted to be mounted on and betweena pair of ladders positioned in spaced side-by-side relationship.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a hoist ofthe character indicated above, which has rigid mounting means, on whichis pivoted hoist sheave carrying means, the sheave carrying means beingadapted to be pivoted, through a complete circle or 360, to put thesheave close to and spaced away from and on a level with or above orbelow the roof or the like, and novel means for releasably locking thecarrying means in selected pivoted positions.

Other important objects and advantageous features of the invention willbe apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration only, a specific form ofthe invention is set forth in detail.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a contracted top plan view of a hoist of the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a contracted front elevation of said hoist, showing the samemounted on and extending between a pair of ladders, and carrying a hoistsheave and cable;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary exploded vertical longitudinal section, on anenlarged scale, taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designatelike parts throughout the several views, the illustrated hoist,generally designated 16', comprises a pair of similar but reversed,laterally spaced mounting brackets 12 and 14, on and between which ispivotally supported a hoist sheave carrier 16. The brackets 12 and 14comprise vertically spaced, upwardly converging and intersectingstraight upper and lower arms 18 and 26, respectively, the lower orsecond arm 20 being substantially longer than the upper or first arm 18,the upper end of the upper arm being suitably fixed, as indicated at 22,to the lower arm 26, at a point spaced below the upper end of the lowerarm.

Fixed to and extending at opposite sides of the lower end of the upperbracket arm 18 is a horizontally elongated ladder rung grip 24 which isa C-shaped, downwardly opening channel. The grip 24 comprises ahorizontal web 26 which merges, at its ends, into opposed arcuateconcave outer and inner side walls 28 and 30, respectively, which arespaced from each other at a distance greater than the width of a ladderrung and are shaped to conformably grip a ladder rung, as shown inFIGURE 3. The lower edges of the side walls are spaced from each otherto provide a longitudinal access slot 32 which is preferably no widerthan necessary to freely pass a ladder rung into the grip 24.

3,674,588 Patented Jan. 22, 1963 Fixed to and extending at oppositesides of the lower end of the lower bracket arm 2%), is a horizontallyelongated U-shaped laterally inwardly opening channel ladder rungengager 34, having an arcuate vertical web 36 and parallel spaced upperand lower flanges 38 and 40, respectively. The flanges 38 and 40 arepreferably spaced from each other at a distance no greater thannecessary to freely accept a ladder rung therebetween, as shown inFIGURE 3.

'On the upper ends of the lower bracket arms 20 are suitably fixed, asindicated at 42, preferably cylindrical transversely extendinghorizontal solid heads 44 having outer ends 46. As is shown in FIGURE 4,the heads 44 have axial bores extending therethrough which are composedof threaded outer portions 5% and smooth walled inner portions 52, whichare larger in diameter than the outer portions 59. On the inner ends ofthe heads are fixed concentric, enlarged diameter flat circular femalelocking plates 54 which have circumferentially spaced holes 56 extendingtherearound.

The hoist sheave carrier 16 comprises a U-shaped rigid form, preferablyof tubing or pipe, having a straight bight portion 53, on whose ends arestraight legs 69 disposed at right angles to the bight portion, andhaving cylindrical transversely extending horizontal hollow heads 62,suitably fixed therein, as indicated at 64. The heads 62 have sidewalls66 and outer end walls 68 provided with axial openings 7% therethrough.The inner ends of the heads 62 are closed by concentric enlargeddiameter circular male locking plates 72, which are also fixed to theinner sides of the legs 60, as indicated at 74. The male looking plates72 have locking pins 76, or substantially the same diameter as, andlocated on the male locking plates to be selectively engaged in holes 56of the female locking plates 54, in selected pivotally adjustedpositions of the carrier 16 relative to the mounting brackets 12 and 14.

The carrier 16 extends between the mounting brackets 12 and 14 and ispivotally supported thereon by means of pivot bolts 80, whose shankshave smooth outer portions 82 and threaded inner portions 84. Enlargeddiameter heads 86 having handles 88 are provided on the outer ends ofthe bolt shanks, to bear against the outer sides of the outer end walls68 of the hollow heads 62, and collars 9t) spaced inwardly from the boltheads 86,, which engage the inner sides of the end walls 68, to preventoutward displacement of the bolts 80, relative to the hollow heads 62.The male locking plates 72 have smooth axial openings 92 through whichthe shanks of the bolts 86 extend inwardly beyond the male lockingplates 72.

The threaded innner portions 84 of the bolts 86 are removably engagedthrough the inner smooth portions 52 and are threaded in the threadedouter bore portions 59 of the solid heads 44 on the brackets 12 and 14,with looking pins 76 engaged in selected holes 56 in the female lockingplates and the locking plates engaged with each other, whereby thecarrier 16 is held in adjusted relationship to and is rigidly connectedto the mounting brackets 12 and 14.

When it is desired to change the angle of the carrier 16 relative to thebrackets 12 and 14, the handles 88 are used to rotate the bolts so as tothread the same out of the threaded bore portions 50 of the bracketheads 44, so that the brackets can be shifted outwardly away from thecarrier, far enough to put the ends of the bolts in the smooth boreportions 52 of the bracket heads 44, so that the male locking pins 76are disengaged from the female locking plate holes 56, and the carriercan be pivoted to a desired angular position. It is to be noted that thesmooth bore portions 52 of the bracket heads 44 serve as journals forthe bolts 84 while the bolts are threaded out of the threaded boreportions 59, whereby the carrier 16 remains supported on the mountingbrackets 12 and 14 while an adjustment of the carriers rotary positionis being made. With the carrier 16 held in the new position, the boltsare threaded into the threaded bore portions 50, at the same time thatthe locking pins 76" are engagedin holes 56 in the female locking plates54; the bolts 80 being turned until the male and female locking platescome together.

The hoist further comprises a hoist sheave 94, over which is trainedahoist cable or rope 96, the sheave having a hook 98 which isengaged'through an opening 100 in the lower end'of a pendent ear 102which is fixed to a sleeve 104"whichis journaled centrally on the'bightportion of the carrier 16, between two positioning-collars 106;

As shown in FIGURES lto 3, the hoist 10 is adapted to be installed ontwo laterally adjacent ladders L which are supported on the ground andangled inwardly into engagement with the edge-of the cave of a-roof R.The ladder rung-grips 24 are first engaged over selected ladder rungs108, and theladder rung engagers then engaged with ladder rungs belowthat engaged by the grips 24. The desired angle ofthe-carrier 16relative to thebrackets l2 and 14, if not already selected, is thenobtained as hereinabove described, whereat the sheave 94is. hooked intothe eye 102, and the hoist is ready for a hoisting operation.

It is to be noted that the ladder rung grips 24 and the engagers 34occupy the major part of the lengths of the ladder rungs 108, betweenthe ladder rails 110, so that movements of the ladders L toward and awayfrom each other are safely limited by engagements of the ends of thegrips andv the engagers with the rails 110, should such lifting of theladders. develop during use of the hoist 10.

Further, the upwardly and outwardly angled relationships of the brackets12 and 14 to the ladders L, as shown in FIGURE 3., putsthe center ofdownward stress on the hoist, in hoisting operations, at the locationsof the upper ends of the brackets, at points displaced" outwardly andupwardly relative to the points of bearing ofthe brackets on theladders, so that a desirable eiiect of pushing the ladders down on theground and against the cave of the roof R is obtained, which resistssliding of the feet of the ladders even on relatively slippery surfaces,such as smooth concrete.

It is to be understood that while the hoist 10 has been disclosedasbeing proportioned for and associated with two ladders L, the hoistcan be proportioned in width for use and mounting upon a single ladder.

Although there has been shown and described a preferred form of theinvention, it is to be understood that the invention is not necessaFilyconfined thereto, and that any change or changes in the structure of andin the relative arrangements of components thereof are contemplated asbeing within the scope of the invention as defined by the claimsappended hereto.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a pair of'ladders having verically spaced rungs and.side rails, a hoist comprising a pair of brackets having upper andlower members supportably engaged on vertically spaced rungs of theladders, a hoist sheave carrier extending between the brackets andpivoted on a horizontal axis on the brackets, locking means forholdingthe carrier in selected rotated relationship to the brackets, thepivot axis of the carrier being disposed upwardly and outwardly relativeto said upper and lower members, said carrierbeing U-shaped and having ahorizontal bight portion having hoist sheave supporting means thereon,and legs having free ends, horizontal axis locking plates on said freeends, said brackets having horizontal axis locking plates thereon, pivotbolts extendingthrough the locking plates of the carrier legs and of thebrackets, said bolts being freely rotatable in locking plates andthreaded in other locking plates, circumferential holes in lockingplates, and locking pins on other locking plates removably engaged inholes.

2. In combination, a pair of laterally spaced ladders having side railsand vertically spaced rungs, a hoist comprising a pair of laterallyspaced mounting brackets having upper and lower members severally andsupportably engaged with vertically spaced rungsv between railsof theladders, said brackets extending'upwardly and outwardly from the laddersand having upper ends, a U- shaped hoist sheave carrier having a bightportion and legs having free ends, said carrier being positioned betweensaid brackets with the free ends of its legs pivoted on horizontal axeson the upper'ends of the brackets, and locking means forlocking thecarrier in a rotated position on the brackets;

3. In combination, a pair of laterally spaced ladders having side railsand vertically spaced rungs, a hoist com.-. prising a pair of laterallyspaced mountingbrackets having upper and lower members severally andsupportably engaged'with vertically spaced rungs between rails of theladders, said brackets extending upwardly and outwardly from the laddersand having upper ends, a U-shaped hoist sheave carrier having a bightportion and legs having free ends, said carrier being positioned betweensaid brackets with the free ends of its legs pivoted on horizontal axeson the upper ends of the brackets, and locking means for locking thecarrier -in a rotated position on the brackets, the carrier beingrotatable relative to the brackets through 360.

4. In combination, a pair of laterally spaced ladders having side railsand vertically spaced rungs, a hoist comprising a pair of laterallyspaced mounting brackets having upper and lower members severally andsupportably engaged with vertically spaced rungs between rails of theladders, said brackets extending upwardly and outwardly from the laddersand having upper ends, a U-shaped hoist sheave carrier having a bightportion and legs having free ends, said carrier being positioned betweensaid brackets with the free ends of its legs pivoted on horizontal axeson the upper ends of the, brackets, and locking means for locking thecarrier in a rotated position on the brackets, and hoist sheaveconnecting means journaled on said bight portion 5. A hoist comprising apair of laterally spaced ladders located in a vertical plane and havingside rails and vertically spaced rungs, brackets mounted on andprojecting out of the plane of the ladders, a U-shaped sheave carriercomprising a cross member extending between the ladders and legs havingfree ends, means pivoting the free ends of the legs on the brackets on ahorizontal axis extending parallel to the plane of the ladders, sheaveconnecting means on said cross member, locking means for locking thesheave carrier in selected rotated positions relative to the ladders.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

1. IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF LADDERS HAVING VERTICALLY SPACED RUNGS ANDSIDE RAILS, A HOIST COMPRISING A PAIR OF BRACKETS HAVING UPPER AND LOWERMEMBERS SUPPORTABLY ENGAGED ON VERTICALLY SPACED RUNGS OF THE LADDERS, AHOIST SHEAVE CARRIER EXTENDING BETWEEN THE BRACKETS AND PIVOTED ON AHORIZONTAL AXIS ON THE BRACKETS, LOCKING MEANS FOR HOLDING THE CARRIERIN SELECTED ROTATED RELATIONSHIP TO THE BRACKETS, THE PIVOT AXIS OF THECARRIER BEING DISPOSED UPWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID UPPER ANDLOWER MEMBERS, SAID CARRIER BEING U-SHAPED AND HAVING A HORIZONTAL BIGHTPORTION HAVING HOIST SHEAVE SUPPORTING MEANS THEREON, AND LEGS HAVINGFREE ENDS, HORIZONTAL AXIS LOCKING PLATES ON SAID FREE ENDS, SAIDBRACKETS HAVING HORIZONTAL AXIS LOCKING PLATES THEREON, PIVOT BOLTSEXTENDING THROUGH THE LOCKING PLATES OF THE CARRIER LEGS AND OF THEBRACKETS, SAID BOLTS BEING FREELY ROTATABLE IN LOCKING PLATES ANDTHREADED IN OTHER LOCKING PLATES, CIRCUMFERENTIAL HOLES IN LOCKINGPLATES, AND LOCKING PINS ON OTHER LOCKING PLATES REMOVABLY ENGAGED INHOLES.